Initial ornament



VV. H U PPERT INITIAL ORNAMENT Filed Nov. 29, 1935 ATTO RN EY Patented pr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VINITIAL ORNAMENT Delaware Application November 29, 1935, Serial No. 52,039

Claims.

'I'his invention relates to an initial ornament, and more particularly to certain improvements in ornaments of the type comprising a frame member and insert members, such as initials or 5 v the like, which may be axed to the frame in various groupings.

The frame and the inserts may be made as stock parts, to be sold separately and to be assembled in situ by the seller or by the purchaser.

The frame may be adapted to receive one or more initial inserts, usually in groups of three or two, and to hold the initials in properly spaced relation.

One of the features of this invention is the provision, at the top and bottom of the inserts, of inclined lugs which may be easily bent by finger pressure or the like, without the use of any mechanism or tool, to engagein grooves in the frame so as to hold the inserts in place.

Further features, objects, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the frame member of the ornament;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, sectioned in part;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing three initial inserts positioned in the frame;

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing a frame with two initials positioned therein;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing an insert in the rst stage of being aflixed to the frame;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing an insert afxed to the frame;

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view on the line '1 -'I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional View of the frame;

and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an initial insert member.

The frame I0 has an opening Il and grooves I2 in two opposed interior faces. The inner face of the lower or outer wall I3 of the groove is preferably inclined slightly as shown, while the inner face of the upper or inner wall I4 be at. The upper wall I4 is narrower in width, measured transversely of the frame, than the lower wall I3.

The frame -may be made of white metal or other suitable material and may be of any desired shape and ornamented in any desired manner. Where the frame is made of metal, the wall I4 may be originally molded in erect position, as

shown in Fig. 8, and then upset, as indicated by the dotted lines in that figure. In this Way a groove may be readily formed without undercutting the frame.

Bosses l5 may be formed on or secured to the groove-wall I3 at intervals. I'he end bosses may 5 be spaced evenly from the respective ends of the frame and the center boss may be spaced evenly from the two end ones, the latter spacing being substantially equal to or not greater than the overall width of the insert or initial so that the 10 bosses may be used as a means for centering the inserts or initials in the frame, as will hereinafter be explained.

The insert I6, which in the present instance is in the form of an initial, has inclined lugs I1 15 extending forwardly from the rear of the top and bottom edges. The lugs are made of easily bendable, non-resilient, material and may constitute an integral part of the insert, which latter may be cast, molded, or otherwise formed o1' 20 white metal or other suitable material. On referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the length of each lug is substantially equal to or slightly shorter than the overall width of the insert or initial, that no part of the lug extends lateral- 25 ly beyond the initial, and that the edge IB of the lug is rearwardly offset from the front face I9 of the initial.

The insert I6 is set into the frame through the rear of the opening I2 so that the edges I8 of the 30 lugs come into contact with the overhanging portions of the groove-walls I3. It will be observed, on referring to Fig. 5, that in this position the front face I9 of the initial is raised somewhat above the front face of the frame I0. Upon ap- 35 plying a slight pressure against the rear face 20 of the insert, the lugs may be easily bent upward and straightened out to engage in the grooves I2, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to hold the insert in place. The necessary pressure may be effected 40 by the operators ngers ywithout resort to any press or other appliance. In applying the inserts, the frame may, for convenience, be laid face down upon a counter or other at surface. The acclivity of the inner faces of the groove- 45 walls I3 assist in spreading the lugs I'I upon application of downward pressure. When the initials are pressed home, the front faces thereof will be substantially flush with the front face of the frame. Should a wrong initial be used, or 50 should an initial be incorrectly placed in a group, the error can be easily rectified by removing the initial with pressure from the front and replacing it with a correct one or in proper order.

A recess 2| may be formed in each lug, which 56 recess corresponds substantially in size and shape to the boss I5. Where three initials are grouped in the frame, as, for example, the initials E, H and N, shown in Fig. 3, each initial is positioned so that its recesses 2I engage the corresponding bosses I5 of the frame; but where only two initials are used, as, for instance, the initials E and N of Fig. 4, they are placed in the frame with their lugs positioned between adjacent bosses I5. It will be seen that this construction provides a simple means whereby the individual initials, in either grouping, may be properly arranged in uniformly spaced relation to one another and evenly spaced from the ends of the frame.

The invention may be embodied in Various forms and is applicable to a number of different uses, such, by way of example, but not of limitation, as brooches, pendants, bracelets, buckles, and initial plates for attachment to handbags or other articles. Instead of having the inserts in the form of initials, they may be made in other forms, such as numbers, emblems, figures, or the like. It is to be further understood that modications in the details of construction herein illustrated and described may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. An ornament comprising a frame member having an opening and grooves in two opposed and interior faces, an insert member having inclined bendable lugs along two opposite edges for insertion in the grooves, said lugs being adapted to be flattened by pressure on the insert to cause the lugs to engage in the grooves and to hold the insert in the frame.

2. An ornament comprising a frame member having an opening and grooves in two opposed interior faces, the outer walls of said grooves being wider than the inner walls, and an insert member having inclined bendable lugs along two opposite edges for insertion in the grooves, said lugs being adapted to be flattened by pressure on the insert to cause the lugs to engage in the grooves and to h'old the insert in the frame.

3. An ornament comprising a frame member having an opening and grooves in two opposed interior faces, the outer walls of said groovesl being wider than the inner walls, the inner faces of the outer groove-walls being inclined, and an insert member having inclined bendable lugs along two opposite edges for insertion in the grooves, said lugs being adapted to be flattened by pressure on the insert to cause the lugs to engage in the grooves and to hold the insert in the frame.

4. An ornament comprising a frame member having an opening and grooves in two opposed interior faces, a plurality of insert members having inclined bendable lugs along two opposite edges for insertion in the grooves, said lugs being adapted to be attened by pressure on the inserts to cause the lugs to engage in the grooves and to hold the inserts in the frame, and bosses in the grooves for spacing the inserts, said bosses being spaced apart a distance not greater than the overall width of an insert member.

5. An ornament comprising a frame member having an opening and grooves in two opposed interior faces, a plurality of insert members having inclined bendable lugs along two opposite edges for insertion in the grooves, said lugs being adapted to be flattened by pressure on the inserts to cause the lugs to engage in the grooves and to hold the inserts in the frame, bosses in the grooves for spacing the inserts, said bosses being spaced apart a distance not greater than the overall width of an insert member, and recesses in the lugs for engagement with the bosses in one setting of the inserts.

WILLIAM HUPPERT. 

